Real trends — not magazine speculation. The following design trends reflect what we’re actually installing in New Jersey kitchens and bathrooms across the past 12 months. If you’re planning a renovation, these are the looks that will feel current today and timeless years from now.
Trend 1: Calacatta-Look Quartz Everywhere
The single biggest trend across all NJ markets. Quartz patterns mimicking Italian Calacatta marble dominate kitchen installations. Cambria Brittanicca, Caesarstone Statuario Maximus, Silestone Calacatta Gold are the patterns we install most often. Why: marble looks with zero maintenance, perfect for busy NJ family kitchens.
Trend 2: Waterfall Edge Islands
Stone cascading down both sides of the kitchen island, creating a continuous slab effect. Waterfall edges are the modern luxury detail of choice. Pricing typically adds to an island compared to standard edges, but the visual impact is unmatched.
Trend 3: Honed (Matte) Finishes
For decades, polished glossy stone was standard. Now NJ homeowners increasingly request honed (matte) finishes on quartz, marble, and granite. Honed surfaces:
- Read more contemporary and softer
- Hide fingerprints better
- Show etching less (on marble)
- Photograph better in light-filled rooms
Trend 4: Two-Tone Kitchens
White perimeter cabinets with a contrasting island — typically navy, charcoal, or natural wood. Combined with stone choices that complement both:
- White perimeter + dark island = soft veined quartz on perimeter, dramatic marble or quartzite on island
- White perimeter + wood island = consistent stone everywhere (single material)
Trend 5: Bold Bathroom Stone
While kitchens trend toward white restraint, NJ master bathrooms have gone bold:
- Calacatta marble vanities with dramatic gold veining
- Black Nero Marquina marble in powder rooms
- Floor-to-ceiling slab walls in showers
- Bookmatched marble or quartzite vanity tops
Trend 6: Mixed Materials
Rather than one stone everywhere, NJ kitchens increasingly mix materials:
- Quartz on perimeter for daily-use durability
- Marble or quartzite on island for showcase beauty
- Butcher block prep zone in a single section
Trend 7: Quartzite as Marble Alternative
Quartzite — natural stone harder than granite, with marble-like beauty — has grown rapidly in NJ luxury markets. Taj Mahal, Mont Blanc, and Calacatta quartzite are most common.
Trend 8: Bookmatched Slabs
Two slabs cut from the same stone block, mirrored to create symmetric veining patterns. The most dramatic stone detail available — perfect for fireplace surrounds, double vanities, and showcase islands.
Trend 9: Mitered Edges (Thick-Look)
A mitered edge creates the visual impact of a 3-4 inch thick countertop without the actual weight or material cost. Increasingly the modern alternative to traditional bullnose or eased edges.
Trend 10: Black Quartz Returning
After a decade of all-white kitchens, NJ homeowners are reaching for darker drama. Matte black quartz on islands, in powder rooms, and as accent surfaces is making a comeback — particularly in Cherry Hill contemporary builds.
Schedule a Trend-Forward Design Consultation
Visit our Cherry Hill showroom to see these trends in person. Call (609)-372-8776.